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Dad Charged 38 Years After Infant Son's Death Due in Court

Franklin County Jail via Associated Press
Burton "Ben" Hagar last week in a booking photo released by the Franklin County Jail.

PORTLAND, Maine - A father charged with murder nearly 38 years after the death of his 4-month-old son is due in court.

Burton "Ben'' Hagar was charged with murder after being indicted last week. The death of his son, Nathan, was originally classified as sudden infant death syndrome but the investigation was reopened in 1991.

Hagar was due for his first court appearance Wednesday in Portland.

His son was found unresponsive in the family's Brunswick apartment and died at a hospital on May 9, 1979. The investigation was assisted by the state police cold case unit, which became fully staffed as of last year.